Bull’s F1 quit threat is real

Red Bull Racing owner Dietrich Mateschitz running out of love with Formula 1 and could withdraw both his teams if things don’t change.

The Austrian, who also owns Toro Rosso, is rapidly losing patience with the way the sport is being run, the rules and engine regulations which have seen his team in Tilbrook drop from world beaters to also-rans.

On Sunday, at the Red Bull owned Austrian Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo picked up just one point for 10th place for the team after both he and team-mate Daniil Kvyat were forced to take 10-place grid penalties for taking a fifth engine of the season.

“What else has to happen that we will lose our motivation completely?” asked Mateschitz after the penalties were enforced.

“(Renault) take from us not only time and money, but also the will and motivation.

“There is no driver and no chassis which is able to compensate for this lack of horsepower.”

When asked whether he may quit the sport, he added: “You can’t force someone to stay when he wants to leave.”

And the comments aren’t new to Red Bull Racing’s team principal Christian Horner.

He said: “These aren’t words I haven’t heard in private before.

“When he talks like that, you have to sit up and listen.

“He doesn’t believe F1 is where it should be at the moment, and his frustration is nearing a boiling point.